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Post Secondary Students Concerned About Work Placements Impacted By Coronavirus | Kawartha 411 The school officials also noted that prioritizing health and safety has been a key component for the University during the Pandemic. "Trent has enhanced education modules for workplace health and safety, and provided support on conducting interviews remotely as well as professionalism and ethics in a remote world," they said. "For example, the School of Education pivoted to deliver a Virtual School of Education experience, where small groups of teacher candidates delivered lessons to their peers, gaining transferable skills for the online and in-person classroom setting." The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing has focused on supporting all final-year students in securing placements for the final two semesters, each with 300 hours of preceptor practice, the statement continued. According to Trent, putting students needs first at a challenging time is crucial. Many Trent programs have altered the sequence of courses, or allowed students to substitute other courses for placement courses to meet degree requirements. "To ensure uninterrupted learning, the majority of classes have been delivered remotely in the fall and winter terms at Trent, with a small number of in-person classes, labs and field trips on each campus," they said. "A diverse range of wrap-around services continue to be available to all Trent students through newly introduced Student Hubs, the collegiate system, even virtual athletics, to support students' academic success, wellbeing and mental health." All programs at Trent have also followed the Trent Forward plan, which was developed in response to the pandemic and updated as conditions have changed. Professional programs including the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing and the Trent School of Education have specific placement practices due to the nature of their programs and requirements of the professional bodies governing their training. "With differences in programming and regions, Trent and other postsecondary institutions consult about the pandemic together through our provincial and national organizations, but operate autonomously," the school explained. "This allows Trent to work closely with our local public health officials, to operate the University, and serve the needs of our students and partner organizations in ways that respond to COVID-19 conditions in our community. We take pride in the resilience of our students, faculty, staff and community partners and thank everyone for finding the right balance between a safe and healthy campus and the Trent student experience." According to Scott Clark, Press Secretary for the office of the Minister of College and Universities, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced postsecondary institutions to implement modified curriculum to comply with all public-health measures and keep students in Ontario safe. "We recognize experiential learning opportunities at Ontario's publicly assisted colleges and universities provide valuable experiences for students," he said. "However, each college or university is ultimately responsible for their academic and administrative policies including developing and delivering their curriculum, in line with the program requirements from the regulatory body, and the requirements for placements." Clarke noted that as the pandemic in Ontario continues to develop and change, the government will continue to work closely with the province's colleges and universities to ensure students receive the exceptional education and training they need to obtain rewarding careers. "We encourage institutions and sector partners to work together to ensure students meet their Post Secondary Students Concerned About Work Placements Impacted ... https://www.kawartha411.ca/2021/01/25/post-secondary-students-conce... 3 of 4 1/26/2021, 11:41 AM